What is Ranch Ehrlo?Ranch Ehrlo Society is a charitable organization dedicated to providing a range of quality assessment, treatment, education, support, family, and community services that improve the lives of children, youth and their families. Ranch Ehrlo operates in a warm, nurturing environment that promotes dignity and self-respect offsetting problems created by poverty, neglect, addictions, violence and racism. Basic to this approach is sensitivity to the culture of the child and an awareness that differences need to be celebrated. The Ranch has residential and educational programs at the Pilot Butte campus, in the city of Regina, in the city of Prince Albert, at its Buckland campus outside of Prince Albert and at its Corman Park campus outside the city of Saskatoon.Back to Top

How is the Ranch governed?The Ranch has a volunteer board of directors, comprised of citizens representing various constituencies within Saskatchewan. The role of the board is to set policy, establish direction and set short and long-term goals.

The original property was the home of Cliff and Julia Ehrle. Cliff was a local businessman in the city of Regina, who called the property Ranch Ehrlo. He sold the property to the new organization with a minimal down payment, prior to the formal establishment of the Society, which facilitated the establishment of the program. In recognition of Cliff and Julia’s generosity, we maintained the original name, with the addition of the word Society, thereby creating Ranch Ehrlo Society.

Social workers refer children who require intensive care and treatment for specific problems to the Ranch. Referral sources include the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, First Nations Child & Family agencies, as well as some out-of-province referrals. Each referral source pays the cost of residency for the child that is placed at the Ranch.

The treatment programs offered by Ranch Ehrlo Society are based on four cornerstones.

Clinical treatment

Education

Work

Recreation

These four components provide the youth with the opportunity to participate in a program which has been developed to focus on all aspects of their lives.Back to Top

How long do residents stay at the Ranch?

We believe in providing the right service, at the right time, for the right length of stay. Depending on the issues being addressed, the length of residency can vary from a few months up to several years.

The Independent Schools Branch of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education accredits the educational programs of the Ranch.

The Ranch operates the following school programs:

Regina classes: Students attend classes that are located in the Regina public school system. Classrooms are integrated into elementary schools and high school level. Students are placed in these programs appropriate to their age, academic capabilities, and specific treatment issues.

Pilot Butte campus: Schaller Education Centre is primarily for youth who are new to Ranch Ehrlo and is designed to provide academic assessment, remedial academics and behavioural stabilization to allow for future placements.

Transition School: There are three classes in the Transition Building located in Regina.Youth move to the Transition School to better prepare them for a move to an elementary or high school setting.

Prince Albert: Students from the Buckland campus attend the Hansen Education Centre, located on the campus. Designated classrooms within the Prince Albert public school system provide youth the opportunity to be integrated into community schools with the leadership and classroom support of a principal and resource teacher.

Corman Park: Students from the Corman Park campus attend the Ellen Gunn Education Centre that is located on the campus outside the city of Saskatoon.

Vocational opportunities: Ranch Ehrlo also offers several educational opportunities and vocational programs for clients with mental and cognitive disabilities in a warm, nurturing and supportive environment.

Behaviour management is achieved without any form of corporal punishment. Rather, expectations are clearly defined by our trained staff, who use relationships to interact with each youth in a differential way. We are also guided by the CARE model, Children And Residential Experiences: Creating Conditions for Change, which is a residential program model developed by Cornell University. This model improve services for our clients through six practice principles: Developmentally focused, family involved, relationship based, trauma informed, competence centred, ecologically oriented.

While clients are in the program, nearly all of them achieve the goals they have identified to staff and family. At the time of discharge, most youth and families feel very positive about their achievements. Support systems provided by family and community influence the sustainability of this success.

The Ranch reports results annually of the success of all our residential clients, using Efforts to Outcomes database program.

What is the relationship between Ranch Ehrlo and Ehrlo Community Services?As Ranch Ehrlo expanded and began to develop community services, there became a need to establish a separate non-profit corporation. In 1995, Ehrlo Community Services was created. As the services of these two agencies continued to intersect, the decision was made to rejoin the two corporations at its year-end on May 31, 2011. Community programs continue to operate under oversight by Ranch Ehrlo Society include:

How are the group homes named?Since its inception in 1966, Ranch Ehrlo Society has been governed by a volunteer board of directors. These volunteers contribute a significant amount of time to assist in the direction of programs and services for troubled youth. In recognition of this volunteer contribution and commitment to children, Ranch Ehrlo established a policy in the mid-1980s whereby residences and group homes were named after past presidents. Back to Top

Is the Ranch a place for young offenders?The Ranch is not a young offender’s facility and it does not accept court-ordered placements.Young people and families are referred to the Ranch that requires intensive care and treatment for a variety of social and emotional problems.Back to Top

Are Ranch youth a threat to the community?The Ranch provides a high degree of supervision to all of its youth. Additionally, Ranch youth often become involved in their communities through recreational activities, education, and volunteer work, positively contributing to the community.Back to Top

Will having a group home in my neighbourhood lower my property value?All Ranch group homes are high caliber facilities, subject to and approved by the most stringent accreditations. All group homes and properties are well maintained on a regular basis.

Further, our agency has had two real estate agents check the value of properties surrounding our group homes in Regina. They advise that our homes have not detracted the values of surrounding properties. In fact, they have added to the quality of homes in the neighbourhood in several instances.Back to Top

Is Ranch Ehrlo mandated to take youth?We only accepts referrals. Ranch Ehrlo does not ‘have to’ take youth. We do not accept court-ordered placements.Back to Top

What is ‘residential’ treatment?Ranch Ehrlo only uses the term residential to refer to its programs that are based in group homes.Back to Top